Matt Chapman tips: May the Force be with you in the monster Group 1 sprint at Newmarket with Charlie Appleby’s runner

MAY the force be with you! A belting Darley July Cup gives the sponsor’s trainer Charlie Appleby every chance of recording a first success in the monster Group 1 sprint. It’s Creative Force who interests me, rather than stable companion Naval Crown, even though the latter denied his chum in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at […]

MAY the force be with you!

A belting Darley July Cup gives the sponsor’s trainer Charlie Appleby every chance of recording a first success in the monster Group 1 sprint.

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Chappers take a look at Saturday’s blockbuster action[/caption]

It’s Creative Force who interests me, rather than stable companion Naval Crown, even though the latter denied his chum in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

But it won’t be easy for the older horses live on the main ITV network.

A field of 14 is expected to go to post, and the Godolphin pair must give 6lb to the young, rising star that is Perfect Power, ridden by ‘Super Soumi’, better known as Christophe Soumillon, the brilliant Eclipse hero who scored on Vadeni last weekend.

And while he doesn’t get any weight, Australian raider Artorius is primed to try and improve on his third at Ascot just behind Naval Crown and Creative Force.

Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman are bullish.

Throw in the the supplemented Flaming Rib, multiple Group 1-winning miler Alcohol Free and Irish Group 1 heroine Romantic Proposal and you have a deep field.

At the very least, Creative Force has to have every chance of hitting the frame.

The son of Dubawi landed the Jersey at Royal Ascot last year before finishing fifth in the July Cup behind Starman.

He later proved he was Group 1 class when powering clear of Glen Shiel and Minzaal in the Qipco British Champions Sprint, and while that performance was on good to soft going it was on good to firm when his second came at Ascot last time.

He might well come on for that run as it was his first since March.

Naval Crown was a 33-1 victor at the Royal fixture, and there’s no doubt his win was a surprise, even though he once finished a very good fourth behind Poetic Flare in the 2000 Guineas. I’d be surprised if he confirmed the form.

Richard Fahey saddles Perfect Power in a race he won with Mayson in 2012 under Paul Hanagan.

Ironically, it was losing the ride on Perfect Power in place of Soumillon that eventually resulted in the former splitting with the handler.

Soumillon and Perfect Power have proved a partnership made in heaven, taking Group 1 wins in the Morny in France, Middle Park at Newmarket and Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

In between those successes, Fahey tried to stretch out Perfect Power over a mile in the Guineas, but it’s sprinting that he’s made for and there’s no doubt he has solid claims.

He will run up the hill strongly under a patient ride.

Artorius is harder to judge. He’s only won two of his twelve starts, and is a tricky ride in that he comes from off the pace.

Jamie Spencer is the perfect rider for that type of horse, but he will need gaps to come at the right time.

The closest an Australian-trained horse has come to winning the Darley July Cup was in 2003, when Choisir finished runner-up to Oasis Dream.

Freedman said: “There would definitely be a sense of national pride if he won, particularly as there will be a huge Australian contingency coming over for the week of the sales and races.

“This horse really sums up Australian racing as he was purchased for not a lot of money (120,000 Australian dollars, around £67,500).

“We syndicated him among stable clients and he then won a big race and a stud got involved. He sums up how a horse can change people’s lives.”

It’s a busy day on ITV with no less than 11 races being broadcast and some of them with terrific tradition.

At York most eyes will be on the big betting heat that is the John Smith’s Cup over a mile and a quarter.

Mahrajaan will be a big fancy for the William Haggas stable, but I wonder if The Queen might get a result here with Just Fine, who was a disappointing eighth behind Candleford in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That was over nearly a mile and a half, and his effort suggested a drop back to today’s distance might suit. Derby winning jockey Richard Kingscote is on board for Sir Michael Stoute.

Back at Newmarket, incidentally, Haggas has another huge chance with Montassib in the Bunbury Cup.

The lightly raced gelded son of Exceed and Excel was a brave fifth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and has strong claims.

May the force be with them all!

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